Ms Techyna David (centre) flanked by Mrs Alexa Pemberton (left) and Mrs Jean Alcendor-Browne pose for a picture under the watch of two beauty queens (pictures on the wall) who were sponsored by the Development Bank, Ms Carnival Kalia Huggins (left) and Ms Culture Santonnya Mills (right).

Charlestown Nevis (July 3, 2012) — 19-year old Ms Techyna David, one of the six contestants for the Ms Culture Queen Pageant in this year’s Nevis Culturama, is upbeat that by being sponsored by the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis that she will lift the crown.

The contestant, who met the Manager of the Nevis branch of the Development Bank Mrs. Alexa Pemberton on Thursday June 28 and introduced to the staff at the office, was pleasantly surprised when she learnt that three reigning queens in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis were sponsored by the bank.

The reigning Ms Culture Santonnya Mills was sponsored by the Development Bank, and staff at the bank is encouraging Ms David to take the baton from Ms Mills. The reigning Ms National Carnival Queen Kalia Huggins and the reigning Ms Mother’s Day Beauty Queen (St. Kitts) Allison Budgeon were also sponsored by the Development Bank.

“Because of previous success, it is pushing me to give my best so that I can actually be a part of all of this success,” said Ms David. “It kind of, you can say: it is motivating me. I do not want to let the Development Bank down.”

Ms David, who is employed at the prestigious Four Seasons Resort in Nevis as a chef, is not entirely new to beauty pageants. In 2003 while a pupil at the St. James Primary School, she was one of the six contestants who took part in the school’s 25th anniversary queen pageant where she emerged as the winner.

Flashback to the 2003 St. James Primary School 25th Queen Pageant: Techyna David is the second left on top row.

After her stint at the St. James Primary School, she joined the Gingerland Secondary School where she graduated in 2009. She thereafter joined the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College as a Culinary Arts student and graduated in 2011. Ms David hails from Butlers in St. James.

Asked what motivated her to enter the pageant, she said: “Initially I was asked to do it, but it has always been something that I wanted to do. To me, the show helps one to build character, self esteem, and discipline and I found it to be something that I would like to do. So I went for it.

“I would formally like to say thank you to Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for sponsoring me. I can assure you I will give all my best so that I make the Development Bank, my parents and myself very proud.”

The Nevis branch manager of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis Mrs Alexa Pemberton said that the bank, after having landed a winner in Ms Santonnya Mills last year, would work hard to make sure that the baton is passed from Santonnya Mills to Techyna David.

“From all reports, Ms Techyna David has a lot of talent,” said Mrs Pemberton. “She sings very well, and I would have seen her when she was attending CFBC, I would meet her on the pier and on the boat. I did not know who she was at first but when I spoke with her, she always presented herself well, was always dressed nicely; was always professional and very courteous.

“Knowing that she was into a pageant before when she was in primary school and won, we are looking and expecting great things. So, we are looking for her to take up just where Santonnya will leave off in the Miss Culture show.”

While at the office, Ms David was introduced to Mrs Jean Alcendor-Browne, the Bank’s Delinquency Officer, who was one of the Ms Culture contestants in 1994. She said: “I think she (Ms David) is a good candidate who I feel will represent herself well. I saw her today and she is really good in her appearance and her personality and I wish her all the best.”